Country music is dominating the mainstream American charts with the top three artists all crossing over from the genre. Sadly the problem remains that it is still only male artists up there riding high, selling out stadiums, getting the all genre accolades. Why isn’t a talent like Ashley McBryde at the same level? She has everything that a Luke Combs or a Eric Church has. Yet she remains a support on these tours, without the hits, probably doing twice the work of these guys to get less than half as far. It’s a baffling, eternal problem for women in the genre.

Thankfully Ashley doesn’t seem to have let this reality hold her creativity back at all. Much like the model set for her by Miranda Lambert she’s powered her own path releasing brilliant rock leaning country records Never Will and Girl Going Nowhere, while also spending time working with others (on the collaborative project Lindeville) all of which showcase her inventive vocal talent, witty lyricism and understanding of what makes good country music.

Her last solo album Never Will went hard rock, with songs of revenge, murder, cheating alongside the beautiful ballads which she delivered with quiet power. Her debut Girl Goin’ Nowhere was a rootsy and heartland rock take on mainstream country. The Devil I Know seems to blend the styles of these two previous albums, continuing her hot streak of consistent, quality songwriting and singing.